11 Best Ginger Beers

I’ve become somewhat of a connoisseur of ginger beer. As I’m not huge fan of beer/wine/cocktails, but still want something a bit more exciting to drink than just water, ginger beer is my jam. It is not only delicious, but also great for digestion too, a fact that my sometimes-squirrelly stomach much appreciates.

Not all ginger beers are created equal, as I’ve discovered over the years. Not only that, but ginger beer and ginger ale seem to be drawing farther and farther apart. Warning: if you’re expecting syrupy sweet soda, you will not find that here. I’ll be honest, most ginger ales shouldn’t even be allowed to be labeled ginger; they’re basically just sugar, carbonated water, and caramel color (blech). If you’ve never had a true ginger beer before, you might find it shockingly spicy (yes, ginger is inherently spicy, with its own unique kind of burning heat) and less carbonated than typical soda. Sip it slowly, and enjoy the warm, effervescent sensation that fills your mouth and belly.

I have a few main characteristics that I look for in a good ginger beer:

1. I like it spicy. Essentially, it should burn a little going down, and leave a pleasant tingly sensation on your lips.

2. I like it just a little bit sweet. While the sweetness level of these ginger beers varies greatly, in general they are much less sweet and syrupy than ginger ale.

3. I like it fresh. The best ginger beer should taste like freshly juiced ginger.

4. I like it untainted. The ginger beers with added fruit juices, spices, or other flavors are typically not my favorite (with a few notable exceptions). The best ginger beers, in my opinion, contain little more than fresh ginger, spring water, and natural cane sugar, with maybe a dash of citrus juice or citric acid for zest.

5. I like it cloudy. I noticed a pretty common thread among my favorite ginger beers in that they are very pale yellow and cloudy, some almost chalky. Crystal clear, caramel colored beverages usually fall under my description of ginger ale, and thus, subpar (in my opinion).

These ginger beers come from around the world, from Bermuda to England to Australia to Maine, each with its own unique characteristics and flavors. My notes on each ginger beer are below.

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The Ultimate – Rachel’s Ginger Beer. If you live in Seattle, color me jealous. This locally made brew is the single best ginger beer I’ve ever had in MY LIFE. It tastes like freshly squeezed ginger, with just enough sweetness and tartness to balance the spice. They offer growlers (of ginger beer! I die.) as well as a number of specialty and seasonal flavors. You CAN order it online but it’s definitely a splurge. If I could get my hands on this more easily I’d never drink anything else (seriously).

That said, if you aren’t in Seattle you’ll need other options. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. :)

The Go-To – Fever Tree Ginger Beer. If I had to pick my absolute favorite ginger beer, this would be it: my tried and true, my go-to, and the winner of the title “Lindsay’s All-Time Favorite” ginger beer. I also love the small 6.8 ounce bottles, which are the perfect size to enjoy (12 oz is often more than I want in one sitting). Note that Fever Tree also has a ginger ale, which is sweeter and not as spicy as the ginger beer version.

Most Refreshing – Regatta Ginger Beer. One of my newer discoveries, this one is lightly carbonated, fresh and zesty with plenty of gingery bite but no painful burn afterwords. It’s got an interesting cloudy appearance and almost chalky texture (in a good way), made by blending Caribbean & African ginger in traditional stone crocks. You can also find this guy in adorable little mini cans.

The Natural – Maine Root Ginger Brew. A bit different, there are some interesting flavors and spices in this one other than ginger. Maine Root Ginger Brew is made with all organic ingredients, including pure evaporated cane juice. It’s got a nice tingly after-burn that you’ll feel on your lips, in an enjoyable sort of way.

The Sweetest – Bruce Cost Ginger Ale. The only one in the lineup that calls itself ale instead of beer, but it’s got more in common with the other ginger beers than not. At the same time, it’s noticeably sweeter than most of the others, with a fruity, almost tropical, candy-like sweetness. If you ever come across the Bruce Cost Passionfruit Ginger Ale, it’s definitely worth trying. I stumbled upon it once in NYC, and it was nothing short of amazing. Alas, I have yet to find it again, despite my pestering of all the local stores that carry the original variety. I mean, talk about my worlds colliding: passion fruit meets ginger beer.

The Freshest – Spindrift Ginger Beer. My newest discovery, this one has a delightful hint of fresh lemon juice to accent the spicy ginger, producing a very fresh and zesty tasting ginger beer. Another one you can’t buy online (yet), but I found it locally at the Turnip Truck.

Most Versatile – Bundaberg Ginger Beer. A classic, you can’t go wrong with Bundaberg. A perfect balance of sweetness and spice, and clearly made with lots of fresh ginger. It’s one of the most enjoyable ginger beers to drink straight, but also makes a great base for mixed cocktails.

The Original – Barritts Bermuda Stone Ginger Beer. Pleasantly sweet with just a hint of spice, this ginger beer was designed to be mixed with rum and thus is a bit more laid back than other, spicier varieties. Barritts comes in both cans and bottles (they’re filled with the same stuff but the cans are much less expensive).

The Hipster – Gosling’s Ginger Beer. You can’t go wrong with Gosling’s, which was designed to be mixed with Gosling’s rum for the ultimate Dark & Stormy. I call this one the “hipster” ginger beer, as it’s the brand that all of hip local eateries seem to stock. It’s on the sweeter side with just a hint of spice. (Tip for ordering ginger beer in restaurants: you’ll rarely see plain ginger beer on a restaurant drink menu. Instead, scan the cocktail menu: if they have a ginger beer cocktail like a Moscow Mule or Dark & Stormy, you know they’ve got ginger beer on hand).

The Spiciest – Goya Jamaican-Style Ginger Beer. By far the spiciest of the lot, this one burns on the backend not unlike straight whiskey, a heat that builds as you continue to drink it. Whatever you do, don’t drink it too fast, the last thing you want is this going up into your sinuses. Ouch. This one is definitely not as fresh-tasting as some of the others. I am not a huge fan of Jamaican-style ginger beers (too much spice and not enough ginger), but this one is an exception.

The Mildest – Parker’s Ginger Beer. Perhaps the least spicy of the lot, I’d call this one a “beginner’s ginger beer” as it’s just barely tingly on your tongue. If you’re not a huge fan of spice but still want to enjoy some ginger flavor, this one is a great option. It has a good amount of sediment that settles to the bottom, which is how you know it’s made from fresh ginger. This one doesn’t seem to be available on Amazon (gasp!) but I always see it at Whole Foods.

Most Unique – Fentimans Ginger Beer. This one goes slightly against my ‘untainted’ rule, being that it is “botanically brewed” with added herbals and flavorings and fermented ginger which give this ginger beer a very unique flavor. I think it’d be amazing with gin as it has some of the same herbal/floral notes. It’s pricy, but it’s worth it!

Granted, just because it is called ginger beer doesn’t mean it’s good. In fact I’ve had some pretty bad ginger beers in my quest to try them all. Cock ‘n Bull, Reed’s, Saranac (although their Root Beer is AMAZING), GuS, Trader Joe’s, Stoli… meh. Not my favorites. No offense to any of these brands, that’s just my personal taste, and I know I have very specific opinions about my ginger beer.

I find my ginger beer at World Market (Bruce Cost, Bundaberg, Fever Tree, and Fentiman’s), Whole Foods (Parker’s and Maine Root), Kroger (Fever Tree – in the British section), Publix (Goya – in the Latin Foods section), and locally in Nashville at the Turnip Truck (Spindrift and Bruce Cost), Midtown (Gosling’s, Regatta, Bundaberg, and Fevertree), and Craft Brewed (Bundaberg, Fentiman’s, Fever Tree, and Barritt’s). Wherever you happen to live, shop around at your local liquor stores, health/specialty food stores, and independent grocery stores… chances are you’ll find at least a few different varieties of ginger beer. The majority of the brands I’ve listed above are also available online, although usually only in case quantities.

I’m sure there are other amazing ginger beers out there that I have yet to find, especially as craft sodas become more and more prevalent and Moscow Mules seem to be the ‘hip’ cocktail of the moment, and that this list will continue to grow. Do you love ginger beer as much as I do, and if so, what is your favorite brand?

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Ah Bundaberg, how I miss you! I stopped drinking alcohol earlier this year, and I’ve been looking for something to replace it with for the holidays. Too bad they don’t sell my all time favourite in England, but I’ll be enjoying my fill when I get home to Australia.

Thanks for the list, I’ll have to try some of the spicy ones if I come across them here.

We visited Seattle this summer, I found a little place in Pike’s Market that specializes in Ginger Beer on tap, any flavor you can imagine, it was wonderful. I had the original and my daughter got one with blueberry. I ended up having half of hers as she didn’t like the burn after half of it. I think the name was Rachel’s Ginger Beer, and definitely was made fresh.

I also tried a Washington made brand Americana and loved it as well, my daughter also loved the Root Beer,.

Much to my husbands chagrin we have sort of started a local tasting thing, wherever we visit, we try the local root beer, popcorn and hot dogs (who knew almost every state has a unique hot dog variety). Of course we pointed out he tries the local beer brews and that quieted him. Our picks just require more planning or research.

What! I just might have to get in the car and drive up to Seattle for Ginger Beer on tap! Thanks for sharing. And Thank you Lindsay for such a great post. It’s apparent that I am not the only one in love with Ginger Beer.

Crabbies is very worth it. It is starting to appear more and more in larger supermarkets or specialty food stores. And it isn’t that boozey. I don’t really drink (1 or 2 a year) so thus a light weight and having one of these has minimal impact. I haven’t tried the orange ginger beer one yet, but the store down the street has them!

This is amazing! I fell head over heels for ginger beer when I was in Uganda last year. Stoney was a revelation and I drank as much of it as I could because it is sadly not available in the US. (Unless something has changed since then.) I haven’t come across anything comparable since but I also haven’t tried very hard because I’ve never had any of the ones you listed here. I can’t wait to try these!

We get Bundaberg in California. We serve it in the restaurant I work at. I haven’t seen it in stores, so don’t know if it’s found retail. It can be pretty strong, so one of my co-workers makes a non-alchohol “cocktail” by mixing with bubbly mineral water and a few drops of Angostura bitters. Hope this doesn’t offend the purists.

I love this post, Lindsay! I am always hunting for better ginger beers. I don’t mind Reed’s, which seems to be the norm around these parts, but I lovelovelove Bundaberg. You’re right, it is very versatile and totally delicious to drink in cocktails or straight from the bottle. You are making me crave a dark & stormy… at 10:42 a.m.!

LOVE this post. I am always on the hunt for a ginger beer that meets all your specifications! We are especially loyal to Barritt’s, since my husband’s very first Dark & Stormy was in Bermuda :). But ya know what? I was recently at a store and chose another brand over Fever Tree because the bottle was prettier. So dumb. Now I know to go back!

Love love Ginger Beer.
My favorite right now and actually for the last year or two is the Reed’s Ginger Beer.
So good.
I have tried the Trader Joe version of Ginger Brew and well one of the things that I did not like is that there is a smell to it that just pushed me off.
I need my ginger brew to be strong. Love ginger is all I can say.
I have tried a few others just do not remember their names. I always look to see if the label expresses how much actual ginger is in the item.

I have recently become aware of ginger beer, but have never had it because I’m usually drinking real beer (our hobby is finding good craft beer) and because I had to quit drinking soft drinks, and so got out of the habit, when I was diagnosed with asthma. I do love the ginger flavor, though, and would probably enjoy trying ginger beer.

One that you didn’t mention, that might be worth trying, is the ginger beer from Appalachian Brewing Co. in Harrisburg, PA. Since their craft beers are all excellent and their food is likewise excellent, it follows that they would probably apply their same standards to brewing ginger beer. Just a thought…

I’m a total ginger beer fiend, too! I’d rather have it than a cocktail any day! And I, too, have a squirrel-y stomach. Maybe that’s why we’re so drawn to it! Thanks for giving me a few new brands to try! I’ve been seeing the Fever Tree, but haven’t bought it yet. I’ll buy it today :)
Don’t hate me, but I love Reed’s. Not their ginger ale, their ginger beer one. It’s spicy, and I love that it’s sweetened with pineapple juice instead of sugar. But I can understand how you just want plain ginger beer. I hope this doesn’t take away my ginger beer cred ;)

I think Reed’s is one of those love it or hate it things. I’m not a pineapple fan and so that’s all I taste. I get the spice, but not much fresh ginger flavor which is what I love. :) But it’s totally a legit ginger beer. I mean, not like you said Canada Dry or something. :)

I agree re Blenheims. Usually only found in South Carolina. Very very hot, like Goya, but the heat is much better distributed throughout the drinking process. A very good product. Sorry Lindsay, but I also love the Cock & Bull that you mentioned as a “no-like”. D&G is also a favorite; similar to Cock & Bull…. thank you for a great article…

Excellent post. You broke down gingerism quite well, but I still don’t think those on the outside really know what it’s like to be a gingerite.

You may wish to try Phillips Brewing ginger beer (phillipsbeer.com/Beers/ginger-beer). It’s spicy and not sweet. A true beer (5%abv) with personality. Relatively transparent, but cloudiness is not a huge deal for me.

I love ginger beer! Have you tried the Lewis Osterweis ginger beer from Schlafly? It’s named after my boyfriend (lol) and his great grandpa but in all seriousness, it’s one of the best ginger beers I’ve ever had. Let me know how you like it if you get to try it!

This is such an amazing list! My husband and I don’t drink, and we try to find every possible ginger beer we can – like you, whenever we see a new one, we snag it! His favorite so far is Maine Root, and we both love Bundaberg so much that it was our signature drink at our wedding. I just read through this list with him – we’ve never tried the Goya or the Spindrift, but we’re going on a hunt to find them now! Thanks for the awesome list!

I’ve kiiiind of become a Moscow Mule fiend in the past year or so… and a lot of my obsession stems from my love for the spicy, sweet quality of the ginger beers mixed in! If you’re looking for an alcoholic ginger beer, Crabbies does the trick!

After reading this I happened to find the Bruce Cost Passionfruit ginger ale and it totally lives up to the hype. Holy cow is this amazing! Now I want to try all the flavors. It was the last pack at my store, but if you’re ever in Wisconsin for some reason, Woodman’s carries all the Bruce Cost ginger ales.

Yes!!! I got so excited when I saw this post and noticed you ranked Fever Tree #1. I haven’t even tried all of the ones you’ve listed (quite impressive, I must say), but I’d put money on the fact that it’s the all around best. It’s delicious, plus it’s cured multiple stomachaches. Cheers & happy holidays! :)

Ahhh! I love this post – I am a ginger beer girl myself. My personal favorite is Goose Island Spicy Ginger – just the right amount of heat and full of real ginger flavor. I will have to tray a few of the others you listed out for comparison.

agreed. As a collector/taster of Ginger beers myself, when I came across Blenheim, I thought I died and gone to heaven. Absolutely wonderful. the HOT version.
I was actually at “south of the border” in SC when I first discovered it, not knowing it is brewed locally there. Now back home up north, I am in sticker shock and am trolling all my friends driving to FL to stop and pick me up a case. or two.

How about Ginger Geople’s Ginger Beer? I think it is the best i have had so far. I wanted to like Fever Tree beer as well, but I think it could use a bit more of something… although I do like it, perhaps half and half with Bundeberg or Stoli would make me like it better. On their own, Bundeberg and Outrageous are also premium. Looking forward to trying Maine Root, Goya, and Fentiman’s sometime…. I like to feel a refreshing ginger kick still lingering about a half hour later.

How in the WORLD did you miss REED’S Ginger brews?? Talk about the VERY BEST INGREDIANTS – and by virtue of that – the VERY BEST TASTE! Premium sweetened with honey and 18gram of REAL GINGER, no GMO’s, never syrups or concentrates, Orignal with cane sugar 18g real ginger and REED’S EXTRA with 24g real ginger and is the #1 selling ginger beer in Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and all the natural markets who know quality! I suggest you compare ALL OF THESE to REED’S and you will find, one that stands out over the crowd. Cheers!

It’s briefly mentioned above in the list of ginger beers that I don’t particularly like. That’s not saying it’s a bad ginger beer, I just don’t personally enjoy it and find it too fruity for my preferences. But to each her own! :)

“Warning: if you’re expecting syrupy sweet soda, you will not find that here. I’ll be honest, most ginger ales shouldn’t even be allowed to be labeled ginger; they’re basically just sugar, carbonated water, and caramel color (blech).”

…then I saw you include Gosling’s and Barritt’s, neither of which contain any ginger, but rather corn syrup or high fructose corn syrup. Why?

My amazing wife got me a case of the Bruce Cost Passion Fruit for Valentine’s Day (it’s available on Amazon, but it is expensive!), and I have to say, it didn’t have enough passion fruit flavor for me. I thought it was barely noticeable.

I am a huge Ginger beer fanatic and while I love Maine Root Ginger beer my absolute favorite is Buffalo Rock Ginger Ale, Lots of ginger just a bit sweet, nice heat!! It’s produced in Birmingham, Alabama and can be ordered and shipped anywhere.

Stoke ginger beer. Its last ingredient was a touch of cinnamon but you hardly knew it, only that something
special was just tasted. Wish they’d come our way – USA. Lots of Bundaberg which was
great & readily available in US. A few other local brands we couldn’t go wrong with.

Bundaberg’s can be found occasionally a Meijer stores as well as Gossling’s.

Just bought some Barritt’s and it is by far the worst tasting Ginger beer I have ever tried, and I have drank it for close to 30 yrs. One not listed that is by far the best (IMO) Northwood’s. Hard to obtain but great.

Have you triedVernors? Was made in Detroit. I think Dr Pepper bought them out. I now live in the South and find it at Krogers. Would be interested to know how it stacks up to the others. I keep mine on hand for when I don’t feel well. Try not to breathe the bubbles in. You will sneeze for sure.

Great write up and comments. I’m starting a ginger beer company in a place called Lake Okoboj, Iowa. Why? After finding a recipe that was so money that people begged for it so they could add it to their Moscow Mules; I knew I had something special. It was to me to step away from the hobby and get real. Time to bring the party to everyone. Please look for Boji Girl Ginger Beer soon.

Super service-y! We always keep ginger beer in our home bar (for bourbon and ginger, duh) but only can get Reed’s at the two groceries by us. Meh. I have been stocking up on Trader Joe’s, as well, which is super spicy and not my favorite but more out of necessity than anything else. Might just have to bite the bullet and order some of these!

I still miss Olde Tyme. I tried a Bundaberg today, and WOW do I have to disagree with you. NO heat. NO ginger flavor. More than anything else it reminded me a lot of Goya’s Cola Champagne. Basically, sugar-flavored water, just cloudy instead of orange. And, yes, I did mix it like the label said. Now I have three bottles left. I’ll probably use them for cooking or something, save myself wasting Goya.

I’m a life-long ginger beer addict, as a kid (60s) only cock & bull could be found at an English import store, highland games or renaissance faire . Reeds became available at health food stores yet are now offered in most grocery stores now. That was it till about 5 yrs ago when this delightful ginger beer explosion began>>>I am in heaven! I want to try them all! Want to make my own some day too. Have tried maybe a dozen. Fever tree is one of my favorites. Want to try Goya after reading comments here. Thought some of the ones mentioned did not have enough fresh hot ginger flavor. One thing I have learned is that age & how bottle was stored/temperature is important!!! My newest search is to try the new wave of alcoholic ginger beer. Sadly many are malt based which I do not like. Trader joes carries Holman &fenton ginger beer which is Holloman & fenton’s which is 4% & has been made in Scotland since 1905. Not a bourbon fan yet think with strong ginger flavor it is much better than vodka/mules or rum. It balances the sweeter ginger beers as well without detracting from ginger flavor. Found a new 5% ginger beer made in Colorado yet can not remember name. Amazon offers a ginger beer sampler 12 bottles

I’ve been drinking ginger beer since I was a kid. I’m 65. Here in Michigan, it was Schweppes. I suppose it’s no longer available because I can’t find it. It was just the right burn your tongue spicy. I’m pleased with the Moscow Mule phase for it has resurrected an old favorite. Thanks for the post. I can broaden my ginger beer horizons.

Mmm I love ginger beer, it’s pretty much the only soft drink that doesn’t make me ill. I used to drink D&G back about 10 years ago, but recently have had a chance to sample quite a few. B.Stiff & Sons here in CO. makes a very balanced ginger beer. I also enjoy Cock N Bull due to it’s decent amount of ginger heat. Q brand ginger beer is hot, but more in a cayenne pepper way, and I dislike that it’s only meant as a mixer….I suppose I’m not much of a hipster haha :) Bundaberg is awesome and I always keep it on hand, but it’s so sweet and filling so I only indulge occasionally.
Anyway, Yay for ginger beer (and quality ginger ale as well)! :)

Thanks for this. I found you when I was hunting for the spiciest ginger beer for my mezcal mule. Bruce Cost Unfiltered Pomegranate and Hibiscus and Bruce Cost Jasmine Tea flavour are around the corner from me (I’m in Brooklyn) – let me know if you still are looking for some.

Thanks for this post! I tried Reed’s extra ginger and it was bland and too sweet and basically tasted like ginger ale to me. I tried Bundaberg and it was okay but not really spicy at all. The one that they have at my work that I really like (even though it makes me sneeze, lol) is Jamaica’s Finest Ginger Beer from the Natrona Bottling company here outside of Pittsburgh. http://natronabottlingcompany.com/products.php It’s of the “don’t get it up your nose” variety.

I think it’s the regular variety that I’ve had but it’s certainly the spiciest of all the ones I’ve tried. I’ll have to get my hands on the “hot hot hot!” one. It is also really expensive though. I am going to try the Goya one you suggest. And maybe Fever tree.

Thanks for all the great observations, you’ve encouraged me to try the brews I have not tried yet. Mine go about 75% of the time into a Dark n Stormy or a Mule so a kittle different purpose here. I see you mention Ralphs / Kroeger as a source but not for their own ginger beer. They have a Kroger store brand that they sell alongside Bundaberg and Reeds here in San Diego for $2 a 6 pack of 12 ounce cans on sale since before Christmas. A little “bright” by itself but great for a mixed drink. My question is what is in it? Some brands brag about the ounces of ginger in each bottle / can but not a mention with this one.

I don’t like the flavor of regular beer never have. But my husband got a basket of unique beers for Christmas and I saw the ginger beer. Told him I wanted to taste it and now I am hooked on it. Very refreshing and a little spicey to the mouth. Very good, and it is Crabbie’s Ginger Beer.

I kind of like Jamaicans choice/ citadelle brand . Not too sweet and it is quite gingery. It made me burp ( i know you needed to know that!) and it tingled my inner nose. Found it at Kmart and decided to give it a try. I am enjoying it. I usually find reeds and a few others brands in my travels. Would love to have a readily available enjoyable g-b year round. Would be great to pour over vanilla iced cream. Can’t wait to do that!

Thank you for this write-up and review! Bundaberg is my favorite and it’s quite cheap where I live, $1.25 a bottle at the local Asian market. I tried Reeds but that has a strange flavor and I agree it’s not very good. I’ve got some new ones to try now thanks to your list.

I’m definitely a fan of Regatta, and discovered Fever Tree while in England over the holidays… glad to know it’s available in the US as well. Trader Joe’s is also a good option. I agree with your sentiments on Reeds… not my taste. I’ll be on the lookout for some of the others you mentioned. Thanks for the article!

You missed Idris Ginger Beer off your list… I grew up drinking this stuff in my native Wales, UK but since moving to the US 16 years ago, it has proven hard but not impossible to find… in my humble opinion, of all the ginger beers that I’ve tried so far… Idris is right at the very top of the list for best ever ginger beers.

I am new to ginger beer (being a red head why)? Loved my dark n stormy with Gosling’s…but tried to be skinny and bought the diet version YICK. It ruined the drink. So now I am not wanting to branch out…thank for your blog I may get adventerous.

Ive recently discovered a ginger beer from BigLots here in Chillicothe Oh. Belvoir Fruit Farms is the brand name and it is right on top of my list with Spindrift and Maine Root. Definitely spicy, just the right amount of sweet, and that pale and cloudy yellow color you were speaking of. Not sure where else you can find this newly acquired favorite of mine. But it comes in a 25.4 oz bottle and in apparently made in the UK. Was very excited to find this yesterday as it’s been difficult finding anything around here that meets my standards. Does that make me a ginger beer snob?? Anyway, just thought I’d let you in on a new brand to check out if you haven’t known about it thus far. Happy hunting!

Got turned on to Cock & Bull when visiting Portland OR 3 yrs ago. Had a Moscow mule (or a few) served in a great little tavern, Barlow on Greeley Ave. Have no idea about ingred for Cock & Bull. Only place I could get it when I got home was online, $20 for a 6 pack. OUCH! Only ginger beer readily available close to home was Goslings. Ick! Musty taste, & has HFCS, which I try to avoid @ all costs. Found Q brand ginger beer @ Fresh Thyme. Agave sweetened, w/ a kick of cardamom & coriander, a little spicy, and I find it quite satisfactory as a mixer.

If you ever get to Auckland, NZ try Stoke ginger beer. It’s very gingery & has a slight cinnamon ending to it. I’ve tried to talk them into sending some to the US, but for a small operator it must
be a daunting task.

I must say the name beer and ale are at times blended or ignored regarding the way they are made or advertised. There have been many comparisons as to what a ginger soda should be but at it’s root “pun intended” it should always begin with Jamaican ginger. If you want to know a ginger ale that is pure clean and spicy it’s called Blenheim made in South Carolina since 1903. They begin with a local mineral water and while clear it is in the red top very spicy and makes a stunning dark and stormy. They have a gold top less spicy but for the uninitiated it is still far more aggressive than your Canada dry or Vernors. And they have the diet which is like the gold cap sans sugar. To my tastes the best ginger soda on the planet.

Q ginger beer is my absolute favorite. I’m a ginger beer snob. I like fever tree alright, and the Bruce cost is pretty decent just too sweet for me. Since I’ve had Q, I can’t go back!! Nice and spicy with good quality ingredients.

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Welcome to Love & Olive Oil, the culinary adventures of Lindsay and Taylor. We're all about food that is approachable but still impressive, unique and creative yet still true to its culinary roots. (More...)